Chapter 31 #2
‘See, that’s what I’m telling you? You make me laugh, girl.
Why should that make any difference at all?
’ He had a warm glint in his eyes and that cheeky grin on his face.
‘Age doesn’t count for anything. You’re fun, bubbly and I like you, that’s all there is to it, so why not live dangerously and come on a date with me? ’
‘Well, it’s been a long time since I’ve been asked on a date, but… hell, why not! I’d be delighted to come along,’ she said, giving a small squee of delight.
Just at that moment, Tess ambled past again. She’d been checking in with all her friends, catching up on their news and making sure their glasses were topped up.
‘Everything okay here?’ she asked, addressing both Danny and Dilly.
‘Absolutely fine,’ said Dilly with a big smile on her face. ‘We’re having the best time, aren’t we, Danny?’
* * *
As Tess went on her way, she found Rob again, whose face lit up to see her as he reached an arm out, pulling her into his side.
‘Hey, I’ve missed you,’ he said, although it had only been a matter of minutes since they’d been together. ‘How’s it going?’
‘Good,’ she breezed. ‘I’m so happy to have all my friends and family around me today. It feels pretty special. I’m pleased that Josh and Issy could come along too. I hope you didn’t have to bribe them.’
Rob laughed. ‘Not at all. They wanted to come and now they’re chatting away to Hannah and Billy, who are telling them all about the wonders of gap-year travelling.’ He gave a roll of his eyes. ‘I know that will be the next thing.’
‘Aargh, no!’ she said, hunching her shoulders to her ears. ‘Sorry!’
‘It’s fine,’ he said with a wry laugh. ‘It was going to come at some time. Come on,’ he said, taking her by the arm, ‘let’s go and find somewhere a bit quieter.
’ He led her through the groups of people and to a cosy nook by the window of the orangery.
‘It’s been quite a year for both of us, hasn’t it?
’ he said, his gaze drifting outside to The Garden Retreat, taking her hand in his.
‘Honestly, I can’t believe how much has happened.
There have been some real lows, some points where I couldn’t see a way forward, but the highs have more than compensated for those down moments,’ she said, fixing her gaze on his.
‘The biggest high of course was meeting you. I thought I had the perfect life with Charles, but the reality was something different. Somehow, I’ve made it through, happier than I’ve been in years.
I know it sounds like a cliché, but it’s almost as though I’ve finally found myself, the person I was always meant to be.
I don’t bear any grudges towards Charles.
I want him to be happy, and I’m confident now that we can find a way forward together, providing our continued support to Hannah, but happily separated and soon to be happily divorced too. ’
‘I know, it hardly seems possible that this time last year, we hadn’t even met.
I thank my lucky stars that you came into my life when you did.
That beautiful lodge out there, which I made my home for a couple of months, Hollyhocks, you, Barney, you’ve all been lifesavers to me.
I’m not sure what would have happened or where I would be right now if you hadn’t crossed my path that day.
Stomping all over me with your big feet. ’
‘Hey.’ She elbowed him playfully in the ribs. ‘They’re not that big, and I did apologise.’
‘Several times, I remember,’ he said with a wry grin.
‘Sometimes, it scares me to think that we might not have met each other. It was only a strange twist of fate that brought us together. Then I acted totally out of character by insisting that you come and stay in my annexe. What was I thinking? Looking back, I think I must have been possessed by a mischievous spirit. Anyway, I’m so pleased that you said yes, though. ’
‘You didn’t give me any choice, but it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I have so much to be grateful to you for.’
‘Not as much as I have to be grateful to you for,’ she told him, her eyes latching on to his, oblivious now to everyone and everything else around them.
‘Well, let’s not argue about that. All I know is that I love you very much, Tess,’ he said as he traced a finger along her cheek.
She inhaled a sharp breath, a sense of utter joy filling her chest, to hear the words said aloud.
‘I’m excited to see what next year, the future, brings for us,’ he added.
‘I love you too,’ she said without hesitation, having known it for several months, but lacking the courage to admit it to him, until now.
She needn’t have worried. The way he was looking at her, with those blue, compelling eyes observing her thoughtfully, her hand within his, made her feel confident of a future filled with love and support with this special man.
With Rob, her lovely family and loyal friends at her side, she realised that her marriage break-up hadn’t signified an ending, but rather it had marked the start of an exciting new beginning.
Now she could be the fearless and successful woman she always intended to be.